File 705/1916 Pt 1 'Arab revolt: reports' [‎321v] (190/494)

Rpvn
KERB EL A.
Tt is reported that, as a result of a conflict Between Turks and Persians
(Shiah tribesmen), Turks fired on the Shiah shrines at Kerbcla, and that in
the ensuing outbreak some 300 Turks were killed.
MUSCAT.
Nil.
Part II.
ADEN.
In the middle of May the Aushaki, who lie a few miles inland to the
east of Mokha, were said to be in revolt against the Turks. It is now
reported that the revolt has been suppressed and the tribal Sheikh captured.
There seems to have been disturbance in Ilujeria also; on 13th May
about 300 Turks left Lahej in a northerly direction, and were said to be
going to collect taxes in Ilujeria. Rumours of unrest there have been
confirmed, but no details as to its extent are yet available.
The recent increase in the number of Turkish guns in the hinterland to
28 is not causing any alarm in official quarters. There are no longer 28
against Aden as a matter of fact, for one went with a party towards Mafalis
early in May and later four others went north towards Hujeria on the tax
collecting expedition mentioned above. This leaves 23. The British, it is
true, have only 18 guns at Sheikh Othman to oppose them, but it is to be
remembered that the Turks have far greater difficulty than we in supplying
ammunition, that the material result of their guns has so far been small,
and that every gun opposite Aden means one less against the Idrisi.
About 400 500 Turks seem to have been withdrawn to Lahej from
Subar and the neighbouring district at the end of May. The reason given,
and believed in Aden, is that the troops would otherwise have deserted
owing to the intense heat which had prevailed in the Sheikh Othman region.
The Turkish forces containing Aden are given in the latest report as 1,000
Turkish infantry supported by 300 Arabs.
The latest news seems to show that this force is preparing for a move
northward in the near future.
SINAI.
Military News.
The prevalent belief in Cairo since the middle of May has been that the
enemy has probably abandoned his scheme of attacking the Suez Canal for
the present. Pools and even wells have been drying fast, the heat on
15th May being over 100 degrees in the shade. This, though the cause of
the enemy’s recent retirement from many of his advanced posts, has also
protected him, since it has made pursuit difficult.
In the middle of May the enemy’s advanced posts appear to have
consisted of the followdng :—
Bir Salmana - - -A few men.
Bir El Maghara - - - 350
Bir El Mazar - 300
Bir Rodh Salem - - - 200
Jifjaffa
Ain Sudr
Sudr El He itan
Of the garrisons further East the following statistics were reported : —
El Arish - - 3,000 men, 8 guns.
Kossama - - 1,000 men.
Hassana - - 1,700 men, 11 guns.
Nek hi - _ _ 500 men, 3 guns.
East of Nekhl-Kossama-Ll Arish line there seems to have been no
change.
Small posts of a
few men each.
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